The International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna

World’s top fruit fly pests on our sensor

In May 2017 Nancy and Laura traveled to Vienna to conduct some preliminary research on the world’s top fruit fly pests. We were fortunate to be invited to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Pest Control Laboratory where Mediterranean fruit fly is reared on a mass scale for the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) program. We were able to run Mediterranean fruit fly, Oriental fruit fly and several South American species over our sensor.

There are many complex courtship, territorial, feeding and grooming behaviours that exist within various fruit fly families. These behaviours are best observed in a natural habitat, but some can also be observed in captivity. By working closely with organisms of interest, we are adding to our knowledge of these key pests and moving towards the further development of innovative sensor technology.